Driving apparatus and valve including the same

ABSTRACT

A driving apparatus and a valve including the same. The driving apparatus senses a pressure of a fluid medium and generates a driving force. The driving apparatus includes: a drive shaft, a sensing device, a limiting device, a support body, and a protruding member. The limiting device includes a groove, and the protruding member is engaged in the groove. The limiting device can thus automatically limit the rotation of the drive shaft, so as to avoid damaging the sensing device, thereby facilitating maintenance and installation of the valve.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a driving apparatus and a valveincluding the same.

BACKGROUND ART

Currently, in a driving apparatus and a valve including the drivingapparatus, such as an actuator and a regulating valve, for example, in avalve 1 shown in FIG. 1, generally a valve stem 11 and a valve coreassembly 12 are connected together, the other end of the valve stem 11is connected to a diaphragm 13 in the actuator, and the diaphragm 13 cansense a pressure of a fluid medium and then transmits the pressure tothe valve core through the valve stem 11, thereby regulating thepressure. Generally, during maintenance or installation of the valvecore assembly, if a nut 15 in the valve core assembly is screwed when aclamping surface 14 at the upper end of the valve stem is not clamped,the valve stem 11 drives the diaphragm 13 to rotate, and the diaphragm13 may be damaged in the event the nut 15 is excessively screwed.Therefore, generally, the clamping surface 14 at the upper end of thevalve stem 11 needs to be clamped in order to install or remove thevalve core assembly 12. However, to clamp the upper end of the valvestem 11, a spring cartridge 16 needs to be removed. Such a design makesit difficult to install and maintain the valve 1.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a driving apparatus and a valveincluding the same, which can limit the rotation of the drive shaft, soas to protect the sensing device from being damaged.

In accordance with a first exemplary aspect of the invention, a drivingapparatus is provided. The driving apparatus senses a pressure of amedium and generates a driving force, and includes a drive shaft, asensing device, a limiting device, and a support body. The drive shaftextends through the sensing device, the limiting device and the supportbody. One end of the drive shaft is connected to the sensing device. Oneof the limiting device and the support body is provided with a groove,and the other of the limiting device and the support body is providedwith a protruding member engaged in the groove.

In one preferred form of the driving apparatus, the limiting device is acylinder with a central hole, and the groove on the limiting device isan arc groove extending inward along an outer surface of the cylinder.

In another preferred form of the driving apparatus, the limiting deviceincludes a plurality of arc grooves evenly distributed on the limitingdevice.

In another preferred form of the driving apparatus, the limiting devicefurther includes a positioning key, a first key groove is formed in thedrive shaft, and a second key groove is formed in an inner wall of thecylinder of the limiting device. The positioning key can be located inthe first key groove and the second key groove at the same time.

In another preferred form of the driving apparatus, the drive shaft is astepped shaft and has a stepped portion, the inner wall of the limitingdevice is further provided with a projecting portion supported by thestep of the drive shaft. The projecting portion includes the second keygroove.

In another preferred form of the driving apparatus, the groove is inclearance fit with the protruding member.

In accordance with a second exemplary aspect of the invention, a valveis provided that includes a valve core assembly and a valve body. Thevalve core assembly is arranged in the valve body. The valve alsoincludes a driving apparatus in accordance with the foregoing firstexemplary aspect. The protruding member can be used to connect thedriving apparatus and the valve body.

In accordance with a third exemplary aspect of the invention, a valve isprovided that includes a valve body, a limiting device, and a driveshaft arranged in the valve body. The limiting device is sleeved on thedrive shaft. One of the limiting device and the valve body includes agroove, and the other of the limiting device and the valve body includesprotruding member arranged in the groove.

In one preferred form of the valve, the limiting device is a cylinderwith a central hole, and the groove on the limiting device is an arcgroove extending inward along an outer surface of the cylinder.

In another preferred form of the valve, the valve is a pressureregulating valve, a back pressure valve, or a control valve.

According to the driving apparatus and the valve including the sameconstructed according to the present invention, a limiting device with agroove is provided in the driving apparatus or on the drive shaft in thevalve body of the valve, and the groove of the limiting device is matedwith the protruding member, so that during installation and maintenanceof the valve core assembly, the spring cartridge does not need to beremoved to clamp the clamping surface at the upper end of the driveshaft, and the drive shaft can be prevented from rotating excessively todrive the connected sensing device to rotate, thereby preventing damageto the sensing device. Such a design greatly facilitates maintenance andinstallation of the valve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a known valve;

FIG. 2 is a close-up view of one example of a driving apparatusconstructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of another example of a driving apparatusconstructed according to the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 4 depicts examples of a drive shaft and a limiting deviceconstructed according to the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of the limiting device of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 depicts one example of a valve constructed according to theteachings of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The technical solutions of the present invention are described infurther detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings andspecific embodiments.

EXAMPLE 1

According to one aspect of the present invention, a driving apparatus 2,which can sense a pressure of a medium and generate a driving force, isprovided. The driving apparatus 2 includes a drive shaft 21, a sensingdevice 22, a limiting device 23, and a support body 24. The drive shaft21 extends through the sensing device 22, the limiting device 23, andthe support body 24. The limiting device 23 is supported by the supportbody 24, and the support body 24 may be a housing that forms a sensingcavity of the driving apparatus, or may be a valve body or an uppervalve cover. Correspondingly, the limiting device 23 may be located inthe sensing cavity inside the driving apparatus, or located on the valvebody outside the driving apparatus.

Preferably, as shown in FIG. 2, the sensing device 22 and the supportbody 24 forms an enclosed cavity 26, the limiting device 23 is locatedin the enclosed cavity 26, and one end of the drive shaft 21 isconnected to the sensing device 23. The sensing device 22 is used tosense the pressure of the working medium in the driving apparatus, anddrives the drive shaft 23 to move depending on the pressure, therebycompleting the driving operation.

In one aspect, the limiting device 23 is a cylinder with a central hole,a groove 27 extends inward along an outer surface of the cylinder, andthe limiting device 23 is sleeved on the drive shaft 21 and locatedbelow the sensing device 22, the support body 24 is provided with aprotruding member 25, and the protruding member 25 is engaged in thegroove 27 with clearance fit. Therefore, when the drive shaft 21receives a rotating force, the protruding member 25 on the support body24 can limit the rotation of the limiting device 23, and thus limit theamount of rotation of the drive shaft 21, to avoid damaging the sensingdevice 22 connected to the drive shaft 21 caused by rotation. Thesensing device 22 may specifically be a diaphragm. The limiting device23 can protect the diaphragm from being damaged.

In addition, the support body 24 of the driving apparatus 2 in thisexample is further provided with a protruding connecting component forconnecting the driving apparatus 2 and other devices mated with thedriving apparatus. Therefore, the connecting component may be used asthe protruding member to mate with the groove 27 of the limiting device23, so as to limit the rotation of the drive shaft 21, therebypreventing damage to the sensing device 22. Specifically, the connectingcomponent may be a screw, a pin or the like.

In addition, the limiting device 23 may include more than one groove.The protruding member may be correspondingly mated in the groove, andmaintain a clearance fit with the groove. Preferably, the groove is anarc groove extending inward along the outer surface of the cylinder. Inone example, the limiting device includes four arc grooves evenlydistributed on the limiting device.

Further, because the limiting device 23 is sleeved on the drive shaft21, an inner wall of the central hole of the limiting device may furtherbe provided with a positioning key. Specifically, in a driving apparatus3 shown in FIG. 3, the limiting device 33 of the driving apparatus 3includes a positioning key 36 mated between a first key groove 37 formedin the drive shaft 31 and a second key groove 38 formed in an inner wallof the limiting device 33. In this way, when receiving a rotating force,the drive shaft 31 can transmit the rotating force to the limitingdevice 33 through the positioning key 36, and the limiting device 33 canrotate, but only slightly so before being limited by the protrudingmember 35 mated with the groove of the limiting device, preventingdamage to the sensing device 32. Because the drive shaft 31 is coupledto the limiting device 33 by using a pin or key, such a rigid couplingalso limits the drive shaft 31, and can prevent the drive shaft fromrotating even when there is an external rotating force, thereby ensuringthat the sensing device will not be damaged.

Optionally, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a drive shaft and a limitingdevice. The drive shaft 41 is a stepped shaft and has a step 411, andthe drive shaft 41 is further provided with a first key groove 412.Referring to FIG. 5, the inner wall of the central hole of the limitingdevice 43 is provided with a projecting portion 431 having a second keygroove 432, and the positioning key 42 is mated in the first key groove412 and the second key groove 432 at the same time. The step 411 of thedrive shaft 41 is mated with the projecting portion 431 of the limitingdevice 43, so that the limiting device is supported by the step of thedrive shaft.

Optionally, the inner wall of the limiting device may also be providedwith an annular groove for receiving an elastic element such as anO-ring, so as to provide a sealing effect.

In another aspect, the limiting device is sleeved on the drive shaft andlocated below the sensing device, the limiting device is provided with aprotruding member, the support body is provided with a groove, and theprotruding member is in clearance fit with the groove. Thus, when thedrive shaft receives a rotating force, because the protruding member ofthe limiting device is engaged in the groove of the support body, therotation of the drive shaft can be limited, preventing damage to thesensing device connected to the drive shaft caused by rotation.

EXAMPLE 2

According to another aspect of the present invention, a valve 5 isprovided. The valve 5 may include any one of the driving apparatusesdescribed in Example 1. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 6, the valveincludes a driving apparatus 50, a valve body 51, a valve core assembly52, and a connecting component 53. The connecting component 53 is usedfor connecting the driving apparatus 50 and the valve body 51. Thedriving apparatus 50 includes a drive shaft 501, a sensing device 502, alimiting device 503, and a support body 504. The drive shaft 501 has afirst end and a second end, the first end being connected to the sensingdevice 502, and the second end being connected to the valve coreassembly 52. The valve core assembly 52 is arranged in the valve body51, and the limiting device 503 is sleeved on the drive shaft 501.Specifically, the limiting device 503 is provided with a groove 505 andhas a central hole 506, and the drive shaft 501 extends through thecentral hole 506 of the limiting device, so that the limiting device issleeved on the drive shaft. The limiting device may be located in asensing cavity of the driving apparatus 50, the sensing cavity beingformed by the sensing device 502 and the support body 504, and theconnecting component 53 on the support body protrudes from the supportbody; therefore, the connecting component 53 can be mated in the grooveof the limiting device to limit the rotation of the drive shaft.Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the limiting device 503 is sleeved onthe drive shaft 501 and located above the support body 504 of thedriving apparatus 50, the support body is further provided with aconnecting component 53 (e.g., a screw or a pin) for connecting thedriving apparatus 50 and the valve body 51. The connecting component 53is mated with the groove 505 of the limiting device, so that the driveshaft 501 does not significantly rotate, preventing damage to thesensing device 502.

During maintenance and installation of the valve 5, a fastener 54 of thesecond end of the drive shaft needs to be rotated and driven to removethe valve core assembly; however, when the fastener 54 is rotated, thedrive shaft is driven to rotate along with the fastener 54. Because thefirst end of the drive shaft is connected to the sensing device 502, therotation of the drive shaft drives the sensing device to rotate, butexcessive rotation of the drive shaft may cause damage to the sensingdevice. Because the valve is provided with the limiting device 503, andthe limiting device 503 is mated with the connecting component 53 tolimit the rotation of the drive shaft, damage to the sensing device isthus prevented. The sensing device may be a diaphragm, but is notlimited thereto.

Optionally, the inner wall of the central hole 506 of the limitingdevice may further be provided with threads, and the limiting device canbe fixedly screwed onto the drive shaft by means of the threads.

As an Example 1, the limiting device may include more than one groove.The connecting component 53 may be correspondingly mated in the groove505, and maintain a clearance fit with the groove. Preferably, thegroove 505 is an arc groove extending inward along the outer surface ofthe cylinder. In one example, the limiting device includes four arcgrooves evenly distributed on the limiting device.

As an Example 1, the inner wall of the central hole of the limitingdevice may also be provided with an annular groove for receiving anelastic element such as an O-ring, so as to provide a sealing effect.

EXAMPLE 3

According to another aspect of the present invention, a variant of thevalve of Example 2 is provided. In this valve, the limiting device canbe sleeved at other positions on the drive shaft, which can also preventaxial rotation of the drive shaft, protecting the sensing device frombeing damaged;

Specifically, the valve includes a valve body, a limiting device, and adrive shaft partially located in the valve body. The limiting device issleeved on the drive shaft. The limiting device is provided with agroove, the valve body is provided with a protruding member, and theprotruding member is mated in the groove of the limiting device.

Further, the limiting device can include more than groove. Theprotruding member may be correspondingly mated in the groove, andmaintain a clearance fit with the groove. Preferably, the limitingdevice is a cylinder with a central hole, and the groove on the limitingdevice may be an arc groove extending inward along an outer surface ofthe cylinder. In one example, the limiting device can include four arcgrooves evenly distributed on the limiting device.

The valve may specifically be a pressure regulating valve, a backpressure valve, or a control valve, but is not limited thereto.

It should be noted that as used herein, the terms “comprises”,“comprising” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover anon-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, orapparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only thoseelements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherentto such a process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceededby “a”, “an”, or the like does not, without more constraints, precludethe existence of additional identical elements in the process, method,article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

The above descriptions are merely preferred examples of the presentinvention, and are not intended to limit the protection scope of thepresent invention. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, orimprovements made within the spirit and principle of the presentinvention shall be encompassed in the protection scope of the presentinvention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A driving apparatus for sensing a pressureof a medium and generating a driving force, the driving apparatuscomprising: a drive shaft; a sensing device; a support body; an enclosedcavity formed by the sensing device and the support body; and a limitingdevice located in the enclosed cavity and sleeved on the drive shaft,the limiting device having a first portion and a second portionextending axially from the first portion, the second portion having anouter diameter that is less than an outer diameter of the first portion;wherein the drive shaft extends through the sensing device, the limitingdevice and the support body, and one end of the drive shaft is connectedto the sensing device; wherein the limiting device includes a grooveformed in the second portion, and the support body includes a protrudingmember engaged in the groove, so as to limit rotation of the sensingdevice.
 2. The driving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thegroove is an arc groove extending inward along an outer surface of thesecond portion.
 3. The driving apparatus according to claim 2, whereinthe limiting device comprises a plurality of arc grooves evenlydistributed on the limiting device.
 4. The driving apparatus accordingto claim 2, wherein the limiting device further comprises a positioningkey, wherein a first key groove is formed in the drive shaft, a secondkey groove is formed in an inner wall of the limiting device, andwherein the positioning key is located in the first key groove and thesecond key groove at the same time.
 5. The driving apparatus accordingto claim 4, wherein the drive shaft is a stepped shaft and has a steppedportion, the inner wall of the limiting device includes a projectingportion, the projecting portion of the limiting device is supported bythe stepped portion of the drive shaft, and the projecting portionincludes the second key groove.
 6. The driving apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the groove is in clearance fit with the protrudingmember.
 7. A valve, comprising: a valve body; a valve core assemblyarranged in the valve body; and a driving apparatus for sensing apressure of a medium and generating a driving force applied to the valvecore assembly, the driving apparatus comprising: a sensing device; asupport body; an enclosed cavity formed by the sensing device and thesupport body; a limiting device located in the enclosed cavity, thelimiting device having a first portion and a second portion extendingaxially from the first portion, the second potion having an outerdiameter that is less than an outer diameter of the first portion; and adrive shaft having one end connected to the valve core assembly andanother end connected to the sensing device, the drive shaft extendingthrough the sensing device, the limiting device, and the support body,wherein the limiting device includes a groove formed in the secondportion and the support body includes a protruding member engaged in thegroove, so as to limit rotation of the sensing device, and wherein theprotruding member connects the driving apparatus and the valve body.